Return to the Lord With All Your Heart
It has been edifying to witness, in some very special ways these past weeks, the outpouring of generosity and the abundance of prayers on the part of the faithful in the Diocese of Raleigh. Your response to our brothers and sisters in Haiti in their time of dire need has been extraordinary. It was also magnificent to see the prayers and witness on behalf of the unborn at the Masses and marches in Raleigh and Washington. Likewise, your enthusiasm to participate in the Bishop’s Annual Appeal to help Catholic Charities and our entire Diocese to show the face of Christ to those in need is deeply appreciated. I extend profound thanks to all of you for your generosity and prayers, especially on behalf of the weak and most vulnerable in our communities and throughout the world.
Our fervent prayer and spirit of generosity must be sustained especially in the sacred season of Lent. In the reading on Ash Wednesday, the prophet Joel proclaims, “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart.” In prayer, we give to the Lord not only our voices but our hearts—hearts that long to draw near to His infinite love. If for some reason the busy lives you lead have played a factor in preventing you from sustaining a consistent prayer life, perhaps the Lord is asking you to take deliberate steps this Lent to “slow down.” If you have moved away from the practice of beginning and concluding each day with quiet prayer, now is the time to begin anew. May I also suggest that you make an effort during Lent to go beyond your Sunday obligation and to participate more frequently in the perfect prayer, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Your fervent prayer is a reflection of your desire to “return to the Lord with all your heart.”
Our love for the Lord is also reflected in the love we extend to one another. I recently joined some youth from our Diocese in the feeding of the hungry from our community. One young girl stated, “I have never felt such joy.” She understood correctly that our peace and joy are found not in clinging to ourselves or material goods, but rather in freely giving ourselves, our gifts and our time to help those in need. Perhaps this Lent you can offer your service in a new way to a parish outreach program or ministry designed to reach out in love to our brothers and sisters asking for assistance.
In addition to renewed prayer and almsgiving, the Lenten season highlights for us the spiritual discipline of fasting. Our fasting is a means to remind us of what we “truly need in life’ and a way to free ourselves so that we may share our gifts with others. With God’s grace, fast from the things of this world that weigh you down. Fast from behavior that is contrary to the Gospel, including uncharitable remarks and deeds, grudges and bitterness. In fact, seek to forgive someone who has hurt or offended you, in imitation of the infinite mercy God extends to each one of us.
I also encourage you to demonstrate your desire “to return to the Lord” by celebrating the Sacrament of Penance especially in the Lenten Season. Express your desire to leave behind the “old way” of living and to put on the “new person.” In doing so, you come to understand the depth of God’s great love for you. It is a love so great that He sent His only Son for the forgiveness of our sins. As you make the Stations of the Cross and meditate upon His suffering, death and resurrection, know of the Lord’s great desire to embrace, to forgive and to heal you.
It is my hope that this sacred season of Lent will be a time of abundant spiritual blessings for you and all those you love. With God’s grace may you “return to the Lord with your whole heart” through prayer, fasting and almsgiving and come to celebrate anew God’s great love for you.